Go for Zero - Striving for a Plastic Free & Sustainable Lifestyle

At EKOH, we are interested in reducing plastics and chemicals used in our homes, and this is a short article about why this is important to us. 

The world now produces an estimated 380 million tons of Plastic annually, which could become pollutants entering our natural environment, oceans and even your body as it is ingested in microparticles. 

Most of that Plastic is found in single-use items like bags, straws, cups, and other throw-away packaging or product. That waste has quickly contributed to what we now believe to be between 15–51 trillion pieces of Plastic in the world's oceans.

Plastic is made from materials such as crude oil, natural gas, salt, coal and, in more recent years, bio-matter. Plastic does not decompose. This means that all Plastic that has ever been produced and has ended up in the environment is still present in one form or another. That is not to say that plastics can't break down, they do, but it takes a very long time; plastic bottles take up to 450 years to decompose in landfill. 

There is good news, though, as families, businesses, governments and not-for-profit organizations take on the challenge of cleaning up existing waste and innovative ways to recycle, reuse and reduce the negative impacts of Plastic.

In March 2022, the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) decided to work towards an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.

 AND 

We have these inspiring purpose lead organizations like Ocean Cleanup who aim to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution 

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization developing and scaling technologies to rid the oceans of Plastic. To achieve this objective, they tirelessly work on a combination of closing the sources of plastic pollution and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the Ocean and doesn't go away by itself. 

You can follow the excellent work done by Ocean Cleanup and donate to help achieve the goal of reducing plastic waste in our oceans.

AND 

We have many new innovative manufacturing businesses who using new technologies focus on reducing reliance on virgin materials and rather use material that can be recycled or repurposed, materials like Plastic to make furniture and so much more; one of our favourites is CMplastik in Valencia.

Their main objective is to promote a Circular Economy based on the minimization of the use of virgin materials and to contribute to the preservation of the environment. They work with plastic waste, helping revalue it as a resource and use it as raw material for products, achieving a circular economy for each product.

EKOHSTORE is and online retailer and we are passionate about renewable resources, reducing reusing and recycling and plastic-free, low waste and chemical-free products for our homes, our families and pet. 

What is Plastic free?

"Plastic-free" may seem like an impossible concept, but with innovation, change in behaviours and our mindset, and a little effort, we can each make a difference. Suppose all households and families can make better decisions to reduce, reuse and recycle the positive impact that would have. We can help save our planet, protect ourselves from worsening widespread pollution, and make a change for Good.

How to Make Plastic-Free Changes in your Home 

Here are just a few quick ways you can start living a plastic-free life:

• Shop with reusable produce bags and durable canvas or recycled bags.
• Use reusable bottles, utensils, plates, and cups (yes, no more plastic bottles or paper coffee cups).
• Buy and use plastic-free shampoo and shaving bars, plastic-free pet shampoo bars, ditch plastic bottles for bar soaps in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Buy in bulk or from loose product bids ( nuts, fruit, veg, lollies)  to avoid the profusion of small containers and other excessive packaging materials, and then refill your jars and bottles.
• Reduce paper usage like paper towels and swap to our eco sponge cloths or Swedish Dishcloths, helping reduce unnecessary waste.
• Visit the farmer's market and shop local to buy fruits, vegetables, and other goods directly from the source, don't forget to take along our EKOH reusable produce drawstring bags for easy shopping.
• Go for green clothing, eco-friendly footwear, and other plastic-free accessories and natural or organic fabrics - shop your local ops shop or second hand store, helping drive a circular economy.
• Bring your plastic-free containers to the local takeaways or to use when buying meat, prepared food, bulk items, etc.
• Start composting at home to reduce waste going to landfills and feed your garden.
•  Use only compostable trash bags.
• Rethink how you wrap gifts and go with plastic-free options like recycled fabrics, papers, and kid's drawings - so much more personal too!
• Select zero-plastic packaging and ensure you recycle for online ordering or shipping.
• If you cannot go completely plastic-free, aim for products packaged in PCR/recycled Plastic and check it is BPA-free.

We don't expect you to live 100% Plastic free, and we know it is challenging, and you can't always find products that are not sold in Plastic (e.g. Milk ). What you can commit to is responsible recycling and disposal. If you have plastic containers, ensure you recycle them correctly, so they don't end up in landfills. 

Benefits of Going Plastic-Free

While it might seem convenient to use Plastic, the benefits of a plastic-free life far outweigh the alternative.

But why is this such a big deal? Why should you even bother to make a change? Here are a few quick benefits of living a plastic-free lifestyle.

• Your Health. Plastic-free is better for your health because it encourages you to be more intentional about what you eat and drink. Plastic use has been linked to multiple direct and indirect toxicity issues. Things like plastic sponges and brushes used for washing dishes can leave tiny microplastics on surfaces, and you later ingest these when drinking or eating. Going plastic-free has far-ranging benefits for your health and well-being.
• Your Creativity & Mindset. It encourages you to broaden your thinking and get creative about ways to live without plastics or with it. How can you reuse, repurpose, or revalue any plastic you have in your home? Plastic-free living might just become something of an adventure.
• Your Education. It's an opportunity to learn about new plastic-free products and innovative businesses like Ocean Clean Up and CMPlastic and waste services. Going plastic-free benefits your learning and growth journey for future generations.
• Your Intention. Plastic-free living allows you to be more intentional with your purchases. It's also called social investing, putting money where your values are. Going plastic-free has the benefit of encouraging this conscious, sustainable living.
• Your Environment. This is your world, home, and environment, and that's the big focus of your plastic-free life. You can influence all living things, from plants to wildlife, our oceans, rivers, and the earth.

We can see the range of benefits, but the truth is that we all must choose to be a part of the plastic-free revolution - sign up and join us as EKOH warriors.

EKOH lives by on our buy line - every kind of happy. We understand not one size fits all, so have a look at our range of plastic-free and chemical-free products to help you start your new eco journey. We also offer subscriptions to make it easy for you and the family to form new habits. Check our options today.